The effect of cold and hot-water immersion on post-exercise recovery of indicators of physical performance following a simulated football match

Abstract: Introduction Soccer requires athletes to perform frequently and participate in matches several times per week, placing high demands on physical recovery, neuromuscular function, and the stretch-shortening-cycle (SSC). Performance indicators of sprints, countermovement-jumps (CMJ), modified reactive strength index (RSI-mod) and maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) have been impacted following a soccer match. Water-immersion strategies such as cold (CWI) and hot-water immersion (HWI) are argued to blunt the post-exercise inflammation and aid metabolite clearance, reducing the onset of fatigue and effects on voluntary activation and the SSC-function. Efficacy of these strategies on short-term recovery of performance-indicators is unclear. Aim To evaluate the effect of CWI and HWI on post-exercise recovery of maximal voluntary isometric strength, counter movement jump and sprint performance in response to a simulated football match in pre-elite youth soccer players. Method Forty healthy, male pre-elite youth soccer-players, ages 15-19 years old participated in a randomized control trial, following randomized allocation to CWI, HWI or placebo conditions. The study consisted of four timepoints of Pre, Post (0-h), Post (21-h) and Post (45-h). Participants performed a 90-min simulated football match (SFM) following baseline measures of sprint, MVIC and CMJ performance. The same tests were performed at 0-h following the SFM, followed by being subjected to the assigned recovery condition. Subjects returned at 21-h and 45-h to evaluate recovery differences.Results The main findings were characterized by a significant decrease in MVIC, CMJ and 20-m sprint-performance immediately following the SFM, while RSI-mod and 10-m sprints were not fatigued at any timepoint. All parameters initially affected by fatigue remained depressed at 21-h and 45-h and did not recover within the duration of the study, no significant differences between-groups were detected. Conclusion CWI or HWI after a pre-elite youth football match does not improve recovery of performance-indicators warranting regular use with the goal of aiding post-exercise recovery.